Despite starting the match with promise, Essendon’s good work unraveled quickly as skill errors cost the side a crucial victory.
Essendon assistant coach, Scott Camporeale, believed a combination of errors was to blame for his side’s disappointing display.
“We certainly got shown how to play today by a disciplined side in Collingwood,” Camporeale said.
“I think it was probably good for our young group, just to show us where we are really at.
“Obviously we need to tidy up our skill level under pressure and I think that showed through today.”
Games don’t get much bigger than the Anzac Day blockbuster and both teams lived up to the big occasion by providing an exciting first term of football. It was a high scoring affair with both sides posting five goals.
Dustin Fletcher found himself in unfamiliar territory as he played out the quarter from the forward pocket. He added one goal to the scorers list and provided another tall marking option to Matthew Lloyd who had fire in his eyes. The skipper contributed two majors for the term.
Collingwood controlled the game in the second term. They had no trouble finding scoring options in the forward line and had the Bombers searching for answers to put an end to the onslaught.
The Bombers meanwhile, struggled for clean disposal and moving the ball into attack proved difficult, while converting seemed near impossible.
Dustin Fletcher was doing the hard work all over the ground and he needed his teammates to lend support. Kyle Reimers was also trying hard, using some fancy footwork in front of goal to inspire his side early in the quarter and providing strong tackling pressure for the remainder of the term.
The siren provided momentary relief for the Bombers who would trying to peg back a 31-point lead, heading into the second half of football.
Essendon tried to hold Collingwood accountable in the third term, however Travis Cloke and Paul Medhurst continued to find the ball up forward with ease. It hurt the Bombers as the Magpies extended their margin.
By the end of the third term, Essendon were facing a 53-point deficit and serious alarm bells were ringing at the skill level displayed by the Bombers.
Goals from Ricky Dyson and Mal Michael early in the last term added some respectability but it was short lived. The Magpies dominated the final 15 minutes running out easy 73 point winners.
Camporeale believed one of the positives to come out of the match was the flexibility of Fletcher to play up the ground.
“With Alwyn out of the game, we needed someone who could provide defensive cover up forward so we thought we would try Dustin in attack,” Camporeale said.
